Windows Phones sink, iPhones and Androids swim with Coast Guard

In addition to making the hardware jump, the Coast Guard plans to let users access personal apps, such as ones for social media sites and banks, Serbu writes. The Coast Guard will acquire iPhones and Android devices that run software from Good Technology that automatically keeps business and pleasure separate for users.

The Coast Guard is following in the footsteps of West Virginia officials, who also are using Good Technology so that state employees can use work phones for personal use — or vice versa.

Because the Coast Guard taps classified networks for some applications, such as e-mail, users won't be able to access those systems at first, Serbu writes. However, Coast Guard officials said they hope to work with hardware makers to add a Common Access Card reader in future iterations to make the devices even more useful.